Medicinal tweezer



Aug. 20, 1957 J. BLooME 2,803,252

MEDICINAL TWEEZER Filed Jn. 19, 1954 MFL/6 ff IN V EN TOR.

JOSEPH BLooME MEDICINAL TWEEZER Joseph Bloome, Peekskill, N. Y.

Application January 19, 1954, Serial No. 404,939

2 Claims. (Cl. 12S-393) This invention relates to a device for removing a splin-- ter from ones hand, or other part of the body.

It is va common practice, in removing a splinter, to first lift the splinter from under the skin to expose one end ofl the splinter, after which the exposed end is grasped by means of a tweezers or similar instrument for com-` plete removal of the splinter. v

Ordinarily, the liftingr of the splinter is accomplished through the use of a sewing needle or the like, the tip or point of which is sometimes first inserted in the flame of a match, or inserted in some type of sterilizing solunon.

It will be appreciated that this is a makeshift assembly of instruments,'and from the standpoint of good medical practice and sanitation, it is undesirable to use an ordinary needle, pin, or the like, that may be improperly sterilized or not sterilized at all before u se.

ln View of the above, it is proposed, in carrying out the present invention, to provide a self-'contained instrument that is adapted particularly for the removal of splinters, the tool comprising, at one end thereof, a tweezers, and at its other end having a normally closed container provided interiorly with a sterilizing or germicidal means, the tweezers being equipped with a splinterlifting needle that is norm-ally immersedl in said means but which is exposed whenever thecontainer is opened.

Another object is to insure that the needle will be automatically subjected to the action of the germicidal means whenever the container is closed, so as to be kept completely sterile, between uses of the device.

A further object of importance is to so design the container as to facilitate measurably the replenishment or replacement of the sterilizing means.

Still another object is to form the device in such a manner as to hold the size thereof to a minimum, and permit manufacture thereof at a comparatively low cost considering the benefits to be obtained from its use.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a splinter removal device formed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view on line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the container cap and of a removable sterilizing cartridge normally housed therein.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view on line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of a modified form.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view through another modified form. e

The reference numeral 10 has been applied generally 2,803,252 Patented Aug. 20, 195.7

to the first form of the invention. This includes aflat, circular plate 12, of metal or the like, rigid with the` inner ends of a pair of tweezers arms 14, said arms being.

soldered or otherwise iixedly connected to one face of the plate,V as at 16.

Integral with the other face of the plate is an externally, threaded, short sleeve 18, and extending into the center. of the sleeve is the inner end of an elongated, tapering spur 20, sharply tipped at its outer end. The spur is soldered at its end to the plate 16, and is extended axially of the device, in a direction away from the tweezers arms.

The plate 16 and sleeve 18 form one end of a container which is normally closed, and in which` the spur is housed. The container isfurther defined, in this regard, by an elongated, cylindrical, container cap 24 which can be of transparent plastic or similar material. Cap 24, at its outer end, is permanently closed by a rounded end wall 26, and at its inner end is formed open and has internal threads 28 engaging the threads of the sleeve.

Means is provided within the container for retaining the spur in a sterile condition, between uses thereof. To this end, the spur-sterilizing means comprises, in the Figs. 1 4 form of the invention, a cartridge 30 of cotton or the like, shaped cylindrically to fit snugly within the con-V tainer cap. The cartridge, at one end, is formed with a rounded end portion 32 engaging against the rounded end wall of the container cap. Said cartridge, at itsV other end, is cut off squarely and terminates, when the cap is applied to the sleeve, a short distance from the outer end of the sleeve.

Opening inwardly from the last-named end of the cartridge is an axial recess 34 shaped for snug engagement of the spur therein. As a result, when the cap is applied to the sleeve, the spur will be housed, for a substantial part of its length, in said recess. The cartridge, being of a highly absorbent material, is saturated with any suitable sterilizing or germicidal liquid, and therefore, the

spur will be maintained in a germ-free condition at allv times when it is not being used.

When a splinter is to be removed, one first unscrews the cap Vto expose the spur, removal of the cap being effective to unsheath the spur, since the cartridge will be snugly engaged in the recess.

Thereafter, the device can be grasped with the tweezers y affording a handle, and the spur is used to prick the skin for the purpose of lifting the buried splinter with the spur.

After the splinter has been lifted, the device is reversed end for end in the hand, and the tweezers arms are pressed together against the exposed or lifted end of the splinter, the splinter being thus easily removed in its entirety.

After use of the device, the container cap is threaded onto the sleeve once again, and the spur will now be reengaged in the recess, thusL to permit the germicidal solution, with which the cartridge is saturated, to sterilize the spur preliminary to the next occasion of its use.

Obviously, it is a simple matter to re-saturate the cartridge whenever desired, by pouring a few drops into the container cap. Or, alternatively the cartridge can be replaced with a new one.

In Figs. 5 and 6, there is shown a form in which the tweezers, plate 12, sleeve 18, and spur 20 are unchanged. In this form, however, the cap, designated generally at 36, is adapted particularly for holding a liquid germicide or sterilizing solution. Cap 36 includes a cylindrical body 38 of transparent plastic or glass, formed open at one end and formed at its other end with a closed, flat end wall 40 which permits the device to be supported in an upright position upon a supporting surface S.

The open end of the cap is interiorly threaded as at 42, to engage the sleeve 18, and to prevent leakage of the sterilizing liquid from the cap, there is utilized an annular rubber gasket 44 engaged between the periphery of the plate and the adjacent end of the cap. A suitable quantity of a sterilizing liquid 46 is deposited in the cap, and when the device is supported in an upright position, said liquid will surround the tip of the spur, even when only a small quantity of liquid remains within the cap.

In Fig. 7, there is shown another modification which permits use of the spur-sterilizing means as a swab, capable of being applied to the skin break after as well as before removal of the splinter, to further aid in preventing infection. Y

In this form, the plate has been designated 47, and rigid therewith are tweezers arms 48. The spur has been designated 68-and extends from the plate in the same manner as'in the first two forms of the invention.

' In this form, however, the plate is integral at its periphery with lan elongated sleeve 52the outer end of which is externally reduced in diameter and threaded at 54.

The cap 56 in this form is shorter, and is formed at one end with a fiat end Wall 58. At its open, inner end. the cap is internally enlarged in diameter and threaded for engagement with the threads of the sleeve.

The cartridge 62 in this form has a wide base 64 engaged snugly in the cap. The base merges into a relatively elongated tip portion 66 of reduced diameter, the surface of which is spaced inwardly from the wall of the sleeve.

Formed in the cartridge is an axial recess 68 in which the spur is normally housed, the cartridge being saturated with a germicidal solution for the purpose of keeping the spur sterile.

In use of this form of the invention, unthreading of the cap will result in the tip portion 66 being disposed as an axial projection from the open end of the cap. Therefore, the tip portion can be utilized as a swab, and after the spur has been applied to break the skin and lift the splinter, and the splinter has been removed, the swab can be pressed against and rubbed gently over said break to clean out the wound.

Subsequently, of course, the cartridge can be re-saturat- 40 ed or replaced, whichever is desired.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. An instrument for removing a splinter comprising a pair of arms serving as a handle, a container at one end thereof, an elongated spur in the container, means in the container for sterilizing the spur, the handle including a plate defining one end of the container, said spur also being rigid with the plate and projecting therefrom in a direction opposite that in which the handle arms extend from the plate, the container including a cap detachably secured to the plate, said means comprising a cartridge axially recessed to receive the spur, said cartridge being of greater length than the cap so as to cause one end of the cartridge to project out of the cap when the cap is detached from the plate, said projecting end of the cartridge being adapted to form a swab.

2. An instrument for removing a splinter comprising a pair of arms serving as a handle, a container at one end thereof, an elongated spur in the container, means in the container for sterilizing the spur,'the handle including a plate' defining one end of the container, said spur also being rigid with the plate and projecting therefrom in a direction opposite that in which the handle arms extend from the plate, the container including a cap detachably secured to the plate, said means comprising a cartridge axially recessed to receive the spur, said cartridge being of greater length than the `cap so as to cause one end of the cartridge to project out of the cap when the cap is detached from the plate, said projecting end of the cartridge being adapted to form a swab, said one end of the cartridge being reduced in diameter relative to the other end of the cartridge.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITEDr STATES PATENTS Gratiot Dec. l0, 

